Nowra man jailed for six months for drug and knife possession

A NOWRA man jailed for six months after being found with a knife and scissors in a local park on Wednesday claimed at the time of his arrest he was “stitched up” by police and accused them of “harassment”.

Aaron Gales, 34, pleaded guilty in Nowra Local Court to having a knife in a public place.

He also pleaded guilty to a previous charge of possessing methamphetamine and was convicted of another drug possession charge by Magistrate Gabriel Fleming.

Gales, who was wanted for an outstanding warrant, was arrested by police officers in Nowra’s Marriott Park at 10.45am Wednesday.

Police took Gales to Nowra police station where a search found a 10-centimetre hunting knife hidden in his pants.

Gales allegedly told officers he didn’t know the knife was in his pants.

Police allege he launched into a profanity-laced verbal tirade in which he accused officers of “stitching” him up and “hassling” him.

​The search also found a pair of scissors in another pocket of his pants.

Gales was wanted on an outstanding warrant after allegedly being found with methamphetamine and oxycodone by police in December last year.

Officers allegedly saw Gales riding a pushbike without an authorised helmet near the intersection of Kinghorne and Kalandar streets on December 2.

Court papers stated he was known to police as a self confessed meth user.

A small resealable bag containing a crystal like substance, believed to be ice, was found in a small money belt he was wearing. A small yellow tablet was also found in the belt, which Gales claimed was a “headache pill”.

He later admitted to police the crystal like substance was ice. Tests showed the pill was oxycodone.

Magistrate Fleming said there was no alternative to jail and sentenced Gales to six months’ imprisonment.